Flying-machine.



Patented Apr. 30, 1912' 5 sums-sum 2.

Ewe/M107 A. H. BLOUNT.

FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 0014,1910.

Patented Apr. 30, 1912.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

A..H, BLOUNT.

FLYING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED 00:13.4, 19l0 Patented Apr. 30, 1912,

w 5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

UNITED STATES 1 pm. orrror.

ALBERT H. IBLOUNT, F IDE'lfiOIT, MICHIGAN.

FLYING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 4, 1910. Serial No. 585,207.

Patented Apr. 30, 1912.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, ALBERT H. BLOUNT, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain'new and useful Improvements in Flying-Machines, of which thefollowing is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings. This invention relates to flyin machines in which one or more planes are employed to sustain the machine in its flight and the object of the invention is to provide means for maintaining the equilibrium of. the machine by manipulating the main planes and also by providing stability planes adapted to be manipulated to maintain the machine.

in its upright position while in flight and to right the same if thrown outof balance. A further object of the invention is to provide I suitable means for automatically adjusting the severalplanes to maintain the balance of the machine and further to provide certain other new and useful features in the construction and, arrangement of par-ts all as hereinafter more fully described reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which,

' "Figure 1 is a perspective view of a machine embodying the'invention'; Fig. 2 is a' side elevation of theisa-me; Fig. 3 is an en-' 4 t'aining planes may be used. Aeroplanes of the mono-plane or by-plane typeare liable -to suddenly drop when tilted upon theirmainaxis or thrown out of balanc e,--o-wing to the slight resistance to edgewise 59 movement offered rbyvthemain planes and the'operator is mainly dependentupon the steering planes to"fright his machine. If at the time his machine is tilted it has lost headway owing to the t-stopping of the motor,

555 the planes will havelittle effect in righting the machine and if it' isnear the ground, the rudder plane will not act quickly enough to bring the machine to an upright position before it strikes;

In the accompanying drawings 1 is a suitable rectangular frame work upon which is mounted, transversely thereofand near its forward end, a shaft or spar 2,. and to the laterally projecting ends of this spar? are pivotally attached two main sustaining planes 3 extending rearwardly from the spar and adapted to be raised and lowered at their rear edges to change their angle of inclination to the frame and to the line offlight. A suitable motor 4 is supported upon the frame and motion is transmitted from said motor by any suitable means, such as sprocket wheels and chains, to shafts 5 supported in bearings on the forward end of the frame and provided with suitable propellers 6.

- Located below the able downward extension thereof is a-.sta-

bility plane 7 pivoted at its forward end to turn upon a vertical axis, and located above the frame 1, 1n a suitable frame work 8 forming an upward extension to said frame,

frame 1 within a suitis a stability" plane 9 pivoted at its forward I end to turn upon an upwardly extending axis. These planes? and 9 being located atan interval. below and'above the main longitudinal axis of the frame, when the mathese planes ofler resistance to such tilting and tend to right the machine, and by properly turning them 'atan inclination to the 9 line of flight, their actionis increased to quickly bring the machine back to its balanced position. The balancing of the ma: chine is further aided by a manipulation of the main planes 3, as when the machine is chine is'tilted on its main axis during flight,

tilted to one side, the pl'aneat that side may v be lowered at its rear edge and the plane at the other side similarly raised. V

Pivotally attached to the upper end of the extension 8 of the frame, is a'combined lifting and stability plane 10. The forward end of this plane is maintained at a certain distance above the main frame'ofthe machine by an arm 11 which is pivoted to the upper end of the frame extension and at-its rear end, the plane is attached to the frame by a similar arm which is provided with a slot 12 to permit the rear end of the plane to be raised or lowered. Said plane may thus be should its motor stop and the machine tilt and start to fall edgewise, said plane when sov tilted presenting a surface to resist side movement, which surface is far above the main axis of the machine.

A rudder plane 13 is pivotally supported within-the rear end of the framel to swing in a vertical plane on an axis extending at right angles to the axis of the main planes and pivotally attached to the extreme rear end of the frame is a-rudder or altitude plane 14; for directin the machine upward or downward in its flight. A simultaneous and like. adjustment of both main planes will also cause the machine to rise or fall in its course.

'Extending across the frame 1 near" its rear end is a shaft or spar 15 upon the laterally projecting ends of which two auxiliary sustaining planes 16 are pivotally supported to be adjusted at an inclination to the line .offiight similarly to the main planes 3.

If the machine during its forward flight is tilted from any cause against the will of the operator it is. very quickly again brought into balanced position by-the adjustment of the main planes 3 relative to each other, the relative adjustment of the stability planes 7 and 9 and the tilting of the plane 10,,and to automatically and simultaneously soadjustall of these planes to bring the machine into balanced position a, endulous frame -17 is pivotally supported within the frame 1 upon a shaft 18, to swing transversely of the machine; This pendulous frame may be of any suitable construction to carry the operator or any object of considerable weight so that the frame will be swung by the weight when themac'hine is tilted. As shown, the frame consists of arms 19 mounted upon the shaft to turn thereon and extending laterally therefrom. The outer ends of the arms are connected by cross bars and downwardly extending v bars 20' are secured to the ends of the arms- 1 i 19 and the lower ends of said bars are con- "n'eoted by cross members 21. A suitable chair or. seat 22 is pivotally attached to the shaft18 to turn thereon mdependently of said frame 17- and hangs downward there: from within said frame. bar 23 is pivotally attached to the shaft 18 at its upper end and-is secured at its lower end to the forward side of the seat to support the same. In one of the cross bars 21 of the frame is a series of holes 2 1 and car rie'd by the seat frame is pin 25 to detachabl engage the holes afhd connect the A curved rack 17 so that sa-fd seat and frame will swlng together upon the shaft. Mounted upon the shaft 18 to turn thereon between the pairs of arms 19 is a drum 26 and a hand wheel is secured to the end of the drum for turning the same, said wheel being made in two parts, the one part 27 being fast on the drum and the other part 28 slidable longitudinally,thereof and provided with pins 29 to engage holes in the adjacent arm 19 of the frame and thus det-achably connect the drum with the frame 17 to turn therewith upon the shaft 18. An arm 30 is pivotally attached at its lower end to a bearing 31 on the shaft 18 adjacent to the wheel 27 and to its upper end a curved bar 32 is attached, said bar extending downward adjacent to and guided upon" the curved rack bar 23. The lower end of the bar;32 is provided with handles 33 by means of whicl i it is manipulated by theoperator, and a. sfiitwill be properly adjusted to right the machine. As illustrating one manner in which such connections may be made, lines or cables are shown in the drawings running over suitable pulleys from the frame to the several planes. The main planes 3 are each operated by means of a line 35 attached to the planeat its. under side and running under a pulley36 on the frame 1 and upward over a pulley 37 carried at the outer end of the laterally extending arms 19. This line then passes beneath pulleys 38 on the arm to the lower side of the drum 26 where it is secured to wind around the drum when said drum is turned relative to the arms 19.- A similar line see, attached to the upper side of each main plane 3 and passing over a pulley 40 on the frame 8 extends downward and around a pulley 41 carried by the outer ends of the arms 19. The line passes from'thes. pulley 4&1 beneath pulleys l2 on the adjacent arm and thence to the upper side of the drum 26 where it is secured to wind upon the drum. The plane ously to direct the i'nachine upward or .8 at the othe side of the machine is oper: ated by like lines running in the same mantends downward and is branched to form two laterally extending ends which are each provided with a pulley 45 over which the lines 35 run between the pulleys 38, a loop being thus taken up in each line 35 and said lines equally shortened topull downward upon both of the main planes when the bar 32 is swung downward by the operator. The lines 39 running to the upper sides of the two main planes must of necessity be let out an equal amount when the lines 35 are taken up in the manner described, and this is accomplished by providing a line 46 which is branhed at one end and the'branched ends provided with pulleys 47 to engage loops in the lines 39 between the pulleys 42. The line 46 extends upward and over suitable pulleys 48 carried by the upwardly extending arms on the pendulous frame and thence forwardly over a pulley 49 and downward to a pulley 50 attached to an ear on the upper end of the rack bar 23. After extending over the pul-' ley 50 it is passed along the edge of the bar 32 which is grooved to receive it and secured to the upper end of the bar. When the bar is moved downward, pulling upon the line 43, the line 46 is payed out an equal amount and thus as the loops in the lines 35 are increased the loops in the lines 39 are decreased and the planes are simultaneously lowered. An opposite or upward movement of the bar 32 will cause an opposite or upward movement of the planes.

When the main planes are lowered by the movement of the bar 32 to direct the machine upwardly in its flight it is desirable that the plane lo be lowered at its rear end in a like proportion. To so lower the rear end of the plane 10. a line 51 is attached thereto and extends downward and around a pulley 52 attached to the frame 1 and end so that the action of the air against its under side will raise it to thelimit of the movement permitted by'the line.

The stability planes 7 and 9 are automatically' turned when the machine tilts, by lines attached to the pendulous frame. The upper plane 9 is turned by lines 53 attached to the plane near its rear end and extended laterally in each direction over pulleys 54 on -to the arms 19 of the frame 17.

the upward extension 8 of the main frame. These lines after passing over said pulleys are crossed and attached at their lower ends Lines 55 are secured at one end to the frame 17 and extending downward therefrom, are crossed. andv extend over pulleys 56 on the downward extension of the main frame and are then attached to opposite sides of the plane 7. By this arrangement of the lines, when the machine is tilted toward one side the plane 9 will be turned toward that side of the machine and the plane 7 will be turned in an opposite direction, thus presenting their surfaces to the action of the air'as the machine is propelled forwardly in a manner which will tend to right the machine.

The auxiliary planes 16 are adjusted up and down with a movement corresponding to the movement of the main planes and simultaneously therewith upon the tilting of the machine, by lines57 attached to their upper sides and extending'forwardly over suitable pulleys 58 on the main frame above the pendulous frame 17 and thence downward and secured to the outer ends of the arms 19 of said frame. Lines 59 are attached to the lower side of said planes 16 and extending-forwardly over suitable pulleys and around pulleys 60 on the main frame, are also attached to the ends of the laterally extending arms of the pendulous frame. i

The plane 10 is tilted upon its longitudi nal axis by means of lines 61 secured to said plane near its forward end, and extending downwardly over pulleys/62, and these lines are attached at their lower ends to the outer ends of the arms 19 of the frame 17. Said plane is thus tilted with the swinging of the pendulous frame, caused by the tilting of the machine, and presents a side surface to the action of the air when the machine starts to fall edgewise which will turn the machine on its main axis to an upright position again. I 7

Any suitable means (not shown) may be provided for operating the rudders 13 and 14. If it is found desirable to tilt the machine when in flight and maintain the same in its tilted position, aswhen traveling in -a circle or against a heavy side wind, the

tilted'position by the weight of the operator in the chair. The main planes 3 may also be. manipulated in opposite directions independently of the swinging of the frame 17,

. by turning the drum 26 by means of the hand wheel 28 independently of said frame. The drum may be held in the position to which itisturned to hold the planes in their adjustedjposition by the engagement of the pins 29 with the holes in said frame. In this construction the equilibrium of the machine is automatically maintained by the swinging of the pendulous-frame and at the same tiine the operator may adjust any or all of the planes to suit the varying conditions of flight. He may also set planes and hold the same at any desired angle to maintain the machine in a tilted position during its flight. The operator is relieved from the necessity of watching thevarying air currents in order to properly adjust his planes to maintain 'hi smachine in balance and he has otherwise 'rfect control over it to direct it as desired in its flight.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim is 1. An aeroplane comprising a main frame with its main axis extending in the direction of the line of flight, main sustaining planes extending laterally from said frame and supported to turn upon a horizontally extending axis angularly to the line of flight, lines running from the main frame to the upper side of each of said planes, lines runmng from the main frame to the lower side of each of said planes, means for forming loops in said lines to shorten the same and turn theiplanes, and means for operating the loop forming means to simultaneously let out ,fthe'lines running to one side of the planesfand take up the lines running to the other side of said planes.

2. An aeroplane comprising angularly adjustable planes, a main frame to which the planes are attached, aframe pivotally sup-- ported upon an axis extending longitudinally of the main frame to swing transversely of said frame upon the tilting of the aeroplane, means attached to said frame for adjusting said planes when the said pivoted frame swings, a pendulous weight carrying member plvoted to swing upon an axis coincident with the axis of said pivoted frame, and means for adjustably connecting said pivoted frame and pendulous member to cause the same to turn together upon the tilting of the aeroplane.

3. An aeroplane comprising angularly adjustable planes, a main frame, a pendulous member supported on the main frame to turn upon an axis extending longitudinally of the main axis of said frame, a drum turning upon an axis coincident with the axis upon which said pendulous member turns and rotatable independently of said member, and lines secured at one and tosaid drum be wound thereon, and ir opposits ends to said planes, toI-s st the tached to operate the plane upon the swinging of said pendulous frame, means for forming loops 1n said lines to shorten the same and turn the plane, an arm pivotally.

supported at one end to turn in a vertical plane longitudinally of the main frame, a short line attached to said arm and to the meansior forming the loopin the line running to-one side of the plane, a pulley, and

- a line attached to said arm and extending 1 over said pulley and attached to the means for forming the loop' in the line extending to the otherside of the planes to simultaneously actuate both loop forming means when the arm is turned and let out one loop in one line and take up the loop 'in the other line;

5. An aeroplane comprising two angularlyadjustable planes, 9. mam frame to which said planes are pivotally attached, a pendu- .lous frame adapted to swing laterally of 5 the main frame upon the tilting of the aero- E plane, a drum arranged to turn upon "an axis a 1 coincident with the axis of the pivotal supportof the pendulous frame, lines attached at one end to said planes and at the opposite end to said drum to wind thereon and operatively connected to said pendulousframe to be operated by the swingin of said frame to adjust said planes, means or turn-- ing said drum independently of said frameand means for forming a loop in each of said lines simultaneously shorten the same and adjust the planes independently of the operation of said drum and pendulous frame,

6., .fin aeroplane comprising angularly adjustahle planes,'a mam frame upon which planes are pivotally supported, a pendu- .lotis member comprising aseat fora person,

supported by the main frame to swing lati erally thereof upon thetilting of the aeroplane,a drum supported .by the main frame, a hand. wheelto turn said drum, means on .the hand wheel for engaging the frame and holding the drum in the positihn to which of the movement of the pendulous memher,

or the turning of the drum, and an it is turned, lines attached at one'end to the planes and at their opposite ends to the drum to wind thereon and operatively con nected to the pendulous member, Q be open ated by the swinging of said member to'adjust the planes, a rack bar adjacent'tothe.

seat, means for forming a loop in each of the lines to operate the planes independently ing member engaging the rack bar to hold tion. a

said loop forming means in adjusted posi- 7. An aeroplane comprising a main frame,

main sustaining planes extending laterallyfrom said frame and pivoted to turn upon horizontally extending axes independently of each other, a stability plane above-the frame adjustable angularly to the line of flight and tiltable upon an axis extending longitudinally of the line of flight, means for automatically turning the sustaining planes in opposite directions and simultaneously tilting the stability plane'upon the tilting of the aeroplane, and means under the control of the operator for turning the sustainingplanes simultaneously in the same direction and for simultaneously adjusting the stability planeangularly to the line of flight. j

8. In an aeroplane the combination of a main frame, sustaining planes extending laterally from said frame and pivotally sup ported thereby to turn angularly to the lineof flight, stability planes upon the frame above and'below the sustaining planes andpivoted to turn 11 on vertical axes angularly to the line of fiig t, a horizontally disposed stability plane above-the upper stability planes adapted to be adjusted angularly to the line of flight and to be tilted upon an axis extending longitudinally of the line of flight, means supported by the frame for automatically turning the sustaining planes in opposite directions upon the tilting of the aeroplane and for simultaneously ad-. justing the upperand lowerstability planes Y in' opposite directions and tilting the hori zont-al stability plane, and separate under the control of the operator for tut-n9 ing the sustaining planes together 'in the same direction'and simultaneously ad usting the horizontal stability plane angul'arly;

to the line of fflight.

9. In an aeroplane the combination of 214% frame arranged with its longitudinal axis in the direction of the line of flight, sustaining planes extending laterally from the sides of said frame and supported to turn upon a horizontal axis, auxiliary sustaining planes extending laterally from the sides of the frame adjacent to its rear end and mountedto turn upon a horizontal" axis, a stability plane mounted upon the frame to turn upon a vertical axis in the 'vertical plane of the center line of said frame above the main sustaining planes, a stability plane 7 mounted upon the frame below the main I planes to turn upon avertical axis in the vertical plane of the longitudinal center line of the frame, a horizontally disposed stability plane mounted upon the frame above the upper stability plane and adapted to be adjusted angularly to the line of flight and' to turn upon an axis extending longitudinally of the frame, a vertically disposed rudder plane mounted upon the rear end of the frame, and means for adjusting the several ,planes.

In testimony whereof I aflix my in presence of two witnesses.

ALBERT B ouNTl signature Witnesses:

O'rro F. BARTIIEL, LEWIS E. ELA vnERs. 

